8. Nighttime Eating and Drinking: Gastronomic Choices That Keep You Up
Food and sleep share a deeper connection than most realize. What you consume, especially closer to bedtime, can be the difference between serene slumber and a night of tossing.
Caffeine, the beloved chemical in our coffees and some teas, can linger in your system for hours. That evening cup might seem harmless but can push your sleep time further, making you count more sheep than usual. And it’s not just about falling asleep; caffeine can affect the quality of sleep too, leading to more frequent awakenings.
Alcohol might feel like a sleep inducer, and indeed, it can help you fall asleep faster. But, it’s a double-edged sword. As the body metabolizes alcohol, it can cause awakenings and reduce the amount of REM sleep, the restorative phase.
Spicy foods or heavy meals can lead to indigestion. The discomfort of a bloated stomach or the burn of acid reflux can make lying down an ordeal. This doesn’t just impact sleep onset but can cause awakenings during the night.
Then there are fluids. While hydration is crucial, excessive liquid intake before bedtime can lead to frequent bathroom trips. Each of these trips fragments your sleep, and with every return to bed, the journey to deep sleep restarts.(8)
